Circular combing-machine.



J. SMITH. CIRCULAR COMBING MACHINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED 001225, 1909.

Patented May-.14, 1912.

Jl l l I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SMITH, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCULAR COMBINGr-MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, .latins SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at iiloi'cestei, in the county of Viorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Circular Combing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

rThis invention relates to circular combing machines of the so-called Noble type, and particularly to that form thereof in which the vertical driving shafts are located in the centers of the small pin circles.

Most of the machines of this type now on the market are so constructed that whenever it is necessary to change the small pin circles the gears on the vertical driving shafts below the pin circles have to be taken off in. order to permit these changes to be made. This consumes much valuable time and is a source of considerable lo-ss.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, co-nvenient and practicable means whereby the upper portions of the vertical driving shafts can be moved upward with the pillars without disturbing` the lower portions of the driving shafts or necessitating any change of the gears thereon, and to provide such a construction that the means for connecting the two parts of the vertical driving shafts shall be located mainly below the level of the tops of the pin circles and shall occupy very little space and have no parts that are likely to be broken or injured when the driving shafts are restored to their operative position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the pillars shown in connection with some of the supporting parts below in cross section, and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the shafts separated.

As is well understood, combing machines of this type comprise a large pin circle ,plate 1() (Fig. 1) and a plurality, usually two, small pin circle plates 1l located therein and operated b y vertical shafts 31 which in this case are located in, and concentric with, the small pin circles. It is an advantage, as has been found in this art, to have the shafts 31 concentric with the small pin circles but this introduces a difficulty. The pin circles have to be changed at intervals to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 25, 1909.

` plate.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Serial No. 524,296.

provide for different classes of work and when this is done the gears on the shafts have to be removed in order that the latter may be taken out from above. This has been obviated in some instances by placing the driving shaft outside of the small pin circles but this necessitates additional gearing and a much more complicated machine.

In order that the advantages of the concentric driving shafts may be retained, and still provide for removing the pin circles without taking the gears off the driving shafts, it has been proposed heretofore to separate the driving shafts at a point above the pin circle and provide gearing at this point to connect them.

This invention relates to a more convenient, inexpensive and practicable way of supporting the columns and mounting the different parts and removably connecting the upper and lower parts of the vertical driving shafts.

The machine is shown as supported on top legs 18. On top of the top legs is removably secured a stationary steam chest circle 19. Also secured on the top leg is a support 20 consisting of a plate inside the large steam chest circle. On this plate are supported the small steam chest circles 21 usually two in number. These are removably secured to the support 2O by bolts or the like. The large steam chest circle is provided with ball bearings 22, as usual, which rotatably support the large pin circle The small steam chest circles also support the small pin circle plates so that the latter are free to rotate thereon. Mounted at the centers of the small pin circle plates are pillars 25 each having a iiange 250 at the bottom removably bolted to the support 20. These pillars are concentric with the small pin circle plates and are provided with longitudinal passages through which pass vertical driving shafts 26. These passages have enlargements 27 at the bottom extending up about to the top of the small pin circle plate, the purpose of which will be described below. These pillars support the main driving shaft 2S which is operated by a belt and pulleys or in any desired way.

In Fig. 2 the driving shaft is shown as being held up by ropes or cables so that the flanges 250 are held above the small circles. This is for the purpose of permitting the pin circles to be changed. The vertical driving shafts 26 extend down to a point somewhat short of the bottom of the pillais where they are to be connected with lower shafts 8l which ordinarily constitute a part of the vertical driving shafts. These shafts 3l are journaled in bearings 30 on the support 20 and extend above the latter. The two shafts 26 and 3l are provided with clutch members 32 and 38 respectively. IVhen the parts are in an operative position shown in Fig. l both of these clutch members are located entirely within the enlargement 27 of the passage in the pillar. One is provided with downwardly extending wide clutch teeth and the other with upwardly extending clutch teeth which are complementary to them and match in a well known` way when the pillars are brought together. On account of connecting the shafts in this way, there are no parts which are likely to be broken when the machine starts. From this construction it will be seen that the pillars aie firmly supported directly from the top legs having only one. element, namely the support 20, between, and that the bottoms of the pillars are located at a point below the tops of the pin circles so that there will be little chance of vibration of t-hese parts in the operation of the ma.- chine. Moreover, the means for connecting the shafts 26 and 31 is located entirely within the pillar and protected thereby from lodgment of dust and dirt when the parts are separated. The only part which can receive any deposit at this time is the clutch member 33 which projects up from the support 20 and from the other elements when the parts are separated so that it can be cleaned very easily.

As is usually the case, the shaft 31 or the portion of the vertical driving shaft which extends below the pin circles is provided wit-h a gear 35 at a point below the support 2O which, through a train of gears not shown, drives an internal gear 39 on the large pin circle to operate the same. The train of' gears also drives a gear 4t2 on one of the small pin circles for driving the latter at a slightly greater circumferential speed than that of the large pin circle and in the same direction.

The operation of the machine will be understood readily.

IVhile I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention I am aware that many modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed inl the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction shown and described, but

l. In a circular combing machine, the combination with a large stationary circle, and a large circle plate rotatably mounted thereon, of a. small circle plate rotatable within the large* circle plate, a fixed fiat support for the small circle plate located below the level thereof and having a bearing therein, a vertical shaft passing through said bearing and projecting below said support and having a clutch member on the upper end thereof just above said support and entirely below the top of the small pin circle plate and provided with upwardly projecting clutch teeth, a pillar having a bottom flange adapted to be secured directly to said support below the top of the small circle plate and provided with a passage therethrough having an enlargement at the bottom thereof, and a vertical driving shaft extending through said pillar and having a clutch member thereon located entirely in said enlargement and elevated above the bottom thereof and provided with downwardly extending clutch teeth for engaging the first mentioned clutch member, said enlargement being arranged and adapted to receive and contain the first mentioned clutch member when the fiange is secured in position on the support.

2. In a cii'cular combing machine, the combination of a small circle plate, a fixed flat support for the circle plate, a vertical shaft projecting below said support and having a clutch member on the upper end thereof just above said support and entirely below the top of the pin circle plate, a pillar' having a bottom flange adapted to be secured directly to said support below the top of the circle plate and provided with a passage therethrough having an enlargement at the bottom thereof, and a vertical driving shaft extending through said pillar and having a clutch member thereon located entirely in said enlargement and elevated above the bottom thereof foi' engaging the first mentioned clutch member, said enlargement being arranged aiid adapted to receive and contain the first mentioned clutch member when the flange is secured in position on the support.

In testimony whereof I have. hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES SMITH.

fitnesses CATHARINE I. HARTNETT, C. FoRREsT IVEssoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

